Second Redemption

Chapter 3: Spiders

"This forest...it's so thick..." I kicked away leaves to see more of the path.

The air was heavy and thick with cold air. The dead leaves were crunching beneath my feet, and my breath could be seen in front of my face. I clenched my cloak; a breeze was passing by which made the air even colder. We stopped so suddenly I almost knocked Bilbo over.

"The path! It's gone!" Bofur exclaimed.

"What do you mean it's gone!?" I frantically kicked away leaves to where I hoped would be the path, but all I saw was dirt.

"No...no no..." I turned my head this way and that, searching for any sign of the path.

"Split up and look for it!" Thorin yelled.

I searched this way and that, wanting desperately to find anything that resembled the path. I eventually returned to the spot we were in when we split up.

"No...no...no!" I looked around, turning in circles.

"Sunlight..." I heard Bilbo mutter.

Of course! I immediately began climbing the tree just as Bilbo had already begun to do. Faint noises in the distance could be heard, rustling, and a faint whisper. Something incomprehensible. I followed quickly after Bilbo, rushing up the tree, to poke my head out, the sun blinding me for a few minutes.

"I see it! The mountain!" Bilbo exclaimed, pointing towards the mountain that could barely be seen due to clouds surrounding it.

"Erebor..." I breathed, not wanting the moment of fresh air to end.

I took a final, deep breath of the crisp air, feeling the sunlight's warmth on my face when a sharp rustling echoed through the treetops. It was louder than the usual stirrings of birds or squirrels—closer, heavier, and coming from several directions at once. My heart tightened.

"Bilbo!" I whispered, glancing down just as he lost his footing on a branch, flailing as he slipped through the dense foliage. I stifled a gasp, but before I could call to him, I was forced to brace myself as the branches around her swayed and creaked ominously. A strange, chittering sound reached her ears, growing louder and more unsettling.

Quickly, I began her descent, grasping branches and swinging myself down. The entire forest felt as though it was coming alive, branches clawing at my cloak and leaves falling in thick clouds around me. I touched the ground silently, crouching to listen and stay hidden.

"Bilbo?" I whispered, but there was no response.

The strange chittering grew louder. My eyes scanned the gloom, catching sight of faint, glistening threads tangled in the underbrush—a silken trail leading deeper into the trees. And then, a chilling sight: through the dim light, I could make out the dwarves, each of them wrapped tightly in thick, silken webs, struggling feebly against their bonds as monstrous, spindly legs emerged from the shadows.

I stifled a shudder, watching as a dark, sharp-legged creature advanced toward the helpless dwarves, another skittering down beside it with unnervingly jerky movements. Spiders.I searched the trees for any sign of Bilbo when I heard a piercing shriek emerge from one and watched as its massive body fell to the forest floor.